Cherry-pitting machine



c. H. MARSHALL. CHERRY FITTING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

APPLlCATION FILED JUNE 18, WW.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Fig. 1.

INVENTOH:

C. H. MARSHALL. 0mm Pmme meme. APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE 18 1919.

Patented Feb. 17,1920.

c. H. MARSHALL. CHERRY FITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, I919.

Patented Feb.17,1920.

IIIIIIIIIII-II L IIIII-I INVENTOH:

entrain CHARLES H. MARSHALL,

TURIN G COMPANY,

- To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, QHARLEs H. MAR- SHALL, a citizen of the United tit-ates, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented con tain new and useful Improvements in Cheery-Pitting lllachines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention, broadly to feeding and discharging ing an improved device for placing articles in position to be operated upon and disclarging such arti les after he operation been performed.

In its specific aspect, the invention eonconsidered, relates mechanism, be

sists in certain improvements in cherrypitting machines of the type shown in Patent No. 1,167,005, issued to me Jan. l, 1916. hen the machine shown in the said pit overripe cherries, it sometimes happens that the fruit which rubbed down the walls of the pit receiver becomes mutilated and that the soft pulp is not always lifted from the punching look after the pits have been punched out. One of the objects of the present invention is to eliminate the objectionable rubbing of .the fruit during relative movement of the hopper and punching block. Another object is to insure removal of the fruit from the punching block after the pits have been punched out.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In t e accompanying drawings which form part of this application;

*igure 1 is a perspective view of a cherry-pitting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section looking from the front of the machine, some of the parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking from the left side of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken through me of the cherrv receiving depressions and bowing the pos tions of the parts when the onner is elevated;

igr. 5 is a section taken on the lane that of 4, showing the same rela- Specification of Letters Patent.

June 18,

rn'rniu'r orrroit.

KA, ASSIG-NOR TO MARSHALL MANUFAC- XIA, A CORPORATION OF NEBRASKA.

.LNG IYIAC'LE'IINE.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

1915; Serial No. 305,100.

ticn of the parts at a time near the end of the downward movement of the hopper;

i ig. 6 is a fragmental se tion taken on the same plane as Fig. 5, showing the hopper in its lowermost position, and e F 7 is a fragmental section taken on the same plane as Fig. 6, showing the relation of tl e parts at a time during the upward movement of the hopper when the stripping bar is tilted to scoop the cherries "lOIIl the depressions in the punching block.

teferring to the drawings in detail, the frame of the machine comprises a base plate 1 to each end of which is cured a standard 2.

An elongated punching block 3 extends between and has its ends rigidly'secured to the standards 2. he upper surface of 1c punching block is crowned and is provided with a series of depressions adapted to receive cherries, while a perforation which is large enough for the passage of a cherry pit extends from the bottom of each depression downwardly through the punching block. strip 4 of resilient material, such as rubber or leather, is held against the lower side of the punching block by means of a channel bar 5, the resilient strip and the channel bar having perforations which register with the perforations of the punching b forations in the channel bar are round, while those in the resilient strip are cruciform. e punching block and channel bar are held in place by the bolts 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

hlounted for vertical reciprocation upon the standards 2 is a substantially semicylindrical ho per i aving a slot in its bottom which is substantially filled by the punching block when the hopper is in its uppermost position (see 4) and upwardlv through the ends of which slot the standards 2 extend. The h springs bein con cted to ears on the ends of the hopper. which the hopper mav be moved downwardlv the tension of are secured to the ends of the hop er.

Since the slot in the bottom of the hop.-

er is filled by the punching block only paled, and for insuring their removal from while the hopper is in elevated position, it the punching block, is a tilting stripping is necessary that some means be provided bar 20 having trunnions 21 at its ends which to prevent the contents of the hopper esproject through the slots 18 and lie in the caping through the slot when the bottom lower ends of slots in uprights 16 when the 70 of the hopper is below the block. In the hopper is in elevated osition. As the hopmachine shown in my patent, mentioned per descends the trunnions are caught by above, this result was accomplished by imthe lower ends of the slots 18. movable walls extending downwardly from Carried by rearwardly extending ears on the block. In this case I have provided walls the uprights 16 is a rod 22 which engages a 75 which move with the hopper so that the lug 23 on the bar and tilts it slightly as contents of the hopper do not slide 01 r l the hopper moves downwardly (see Fig. along the walls as the hopper is moved. This slight tilting movement is not great- The'said walls consist of Sheets 11, of enough to cause the stripping bar 20 to come 15 flexible material which passes over rods 2 into contact with the plungers as they pass 80 and 13, having their ends mounted in the through a. series of openings 24 in the stripstandards E2. I prefer to journal the ends of ping, bar. The plunger bar 17 is provide the rods in the standards so that they will with a pair of lugs 25 at each end which enact as pulleys, but they may, if desired, be gage the stripping bar when the plunger 20 rigidly mounted, in which case the sheets bar reaches its limit or downward movement 80 will slide over them. I ha e shown th so that any swinging of the stripping bar is sheets as made or fabric with the edges stopped and the stripping bar is steadied in hemmed. After the sheets have been passed its position of rest (see Fig. 6). over the rods 1:2 and 13, a rod 1a which is As the hopper moves upwardly, such cherslightly shorter than the hopper is passed ries as remain impaled on the plungers are 90 through the hem at the upper end of each stripped ff and the rod 22 again engages the sheet and a rod 15 is passed through the lug 23 and rocks the stripping bar. The lug hem atthe lower end of each sheet; The 23 is so shaped that while the stripping bar rod 14 on one side is then laid against the is only slightly tilted during the downward bottom of the hopper and the ends of the movement of the rod, the upward movementto rod 1:) are successively inserted in holes of the rod rocks it through a considerable in & d p d g Port-1011 f Jthe nd p e t are, as will be understood from an inspecthe hopper (see Figs. 1 and 3). When the tion of Fig. 7. The stripping bar has a other sheet is then attached in the same way, series of scoops 26 projecting downwardly the sheets will be connected to the hopper from its torwardedge; As the bar is rocked 1 as shown in Figs. at, 5 and 6. In lieu of this by the rod 22 in its upward movement, the arangement, the sheets may be made shorter, scoops 26 swing through the depressions in one end of each sheet may be attached to the the punc ing block and the cherries which hopper and h o h r end p s ed Ov r th have remained in the depressions as well as upper roller and connected to a spring tend-' those which have fallen upon the block after 3 ing to draw it downwardly and thus pull being stripped from the plungers are disthe hopper up. Or the upper rollers may charged from the block. be spring operated and the sheets may roll A dumping plate or tray 27 is pivotally up on them as a window shade rolls up on attached to the hopper and overlies its rearits roller. If either of these modifications ward portion" when the hopper is pushe are'used, the side springs 8 may be dispensed down. The dumping plate is provided with with. a rigid rearwardly projecting arm 28 the Extending upwardly from each end of free endor which is connected to the base the hopper and slidable along the outer face plate 1 by means of a flexible member 39 inof the adjacent standard 2, 18 an upright 6, eluding a retractile sprlng. As the hopper and carried by the upper ends of these upnears the limit of its upward movement the rights is a plunger bar 17 which is thus flexible member becomes taut and the plate mounted to reciprocate with the hopper. is thus swungon its pivots. The swinging The plunger bar extends through slots 18 in or dumping movement of the plate is limited 50 upper portions of the standards 2, these by the engagement of extensions 30 with the slots serving to guide the bar during its up rod 22, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and A.

and down movement and to prevent its The operation of the machine will be untilti'ng. The plunger bar carries a series of derstood from the following statement.

downwardly proi ecting pitting plungers 19 while the parts are in the positions in whicl which are respectively positioned above and they are shown in Figs. 1, 3 and i, a suppl adapted to pass through the corresponding of cherries is placed in the hopper, some 0 erforations in the punching block 3, rethem will roll into the depressions in th sili'ent strip 1 and the channel bar '5. punching block. It the handles 10 are no The device for stripping the cherries from pushed downwardly, the cherries in the de the pl-angers, up'onwlnchthey have been impressions will remain there while such othc cherries as are upon the block will roll off combination, a receiver and a support there and descend with the hopper. The dumpfor, a rod carried by said receiver support ing plate 27 will swing down upon the hopand extending adjacent an edge of said reper. The stripping bar and plunger bar ceiver, a second rod carried by said receiver 17 will descend until the trunnions 21 of the support and extending parallel to the firststripping bar are caught in the lower ends mentioned rod, a hopper, said receiver and of the slots 18 in the standards 2, when the hopper being relatively movable so that in plungers 19 will pass through the stripping one position of the parts an edge of the bar and pierce the cherries which have rebottom of the hopper is adjacent the edge malned upon the punching block 3, punchof said receiver, and a flexible sheet passing 7:;

mg out the pits. over said rods and having its ends attached en the springs 8 are allowed to raise to the said hopper. the hopper 7, the plungers 19 will be with- 5. In a device of the class described, in

drawn through the stripping bar 20 and combination, a vertically reciprocating hopsuch cherries as have been lifted by them per having an opening in its bottom, a rewill be stripped ofl, the bar will be roclred ceiver which lies above said opening when by engagement of the rod 22 with the lug the hopper is lowered and which occupies 23 and the pitted cherries will be scooped said opening when the hopper is elevated, oft of the block 3 onto the dumping plate 27. walls which when the hopper is lowered exhe stripping bar 20 will then be picked tend upwardly from the edges of sald openup when the trunnions 21 are engaged by the ing, said walls being movable with said hoplower ends of the slots in the uprights 16 per, and means for shortening said walls at and carried upwardly out of the way so that their upper ends when the hopper is elea new charge of cherries can roll into the vated. depressions during the further ascent of the 6. A device such as is set forth in claim 5, opper. As the hopper nears its limit of in which the walls are formed by flexible upward movement, the dump plate 27 will sheets. be swung on its pivots by the tautening of 7. A device such as is set forth in claim 6, the flexible member 29 and the pitted cherin which the means for shortening the walls ries will be dumped from the machine, when comprises rollers located adjacent the rethe next charge of cherries may be pitted by ceiver. again pushing the handles 10 downwardl 8. A device such as is set forth in claim 6 is apparent that the portions of the in which the means for shortening the walls sheets 11 w ich come into contact with the comprises rollers and means for drawing contents of the hopper 7 will move up and t e sheets over the rollers. down with such contents so that there will 9. In a cherry pitting machine of the class be no destructive grinding or mutilation of having a punching block and pitting plunthe fruit due to its being rubbed against a gers, the combination with said block and stationary part of the machine. plungers of a stripping bar, means for mov- I have described a specific embodiment of mg said strippmg bar prior to the stripping my invention, but it is to be understood that operation to a position immediately above such description is to be taken as illustrative said block, and means for moving said striponly. T e scope of the invention is indiping bar after the stripping operation away cated by the following claims. from such position.

avlng thus described my invention, what 10. I11 a cherry pitting machine of the claim is class having a punching block. the combina- 1. In a device having a hopper and a tion with said block of a discharging menr receiver to be fed therefrom, which hopper er, means for moving said discharging and receiver are relatively movable into and member to a position adjacent said block, out of feeding relation, the combination means for moving portions of said member with said hopper and receiver of a member across said block, and means for moving which, when the opper and receiver are out said member away from said block. of feeding relation, forms a wall extending 11. In a cherry pitting machine of the from the hopper toward the receiver and class having a punching block and pitting which is so arranged that the wall is shortplungers, the combination with said blocli ened at the end toward the receiver when and plungers, of a stripping bar having the parts approach feeding relation. openings through which the plungers are device such as is set forth in claim 1 withdrawn to strip off any cherries which in which the wall forming member is a remain impaled upon them, and means for flexible sheet. moving portions of said stripping bar across 3. A device such as is set forth in claim 2 said block to clear it of pitted cherries. in combination with means adjacent said 12. In a cherry pitting machine of the receiver over which said flexible sheet class having a punching block and pitting passes. plungers, the combination with said block 4. In. device of the class described, in and plungers, of a stripping bar, means to move said bar prior to the stripping operation to a position immediately above said block, means to move portions of said bar over said block to clear it of pitted cherries, and means to remove said bar from said block after the'clearing operation.

13. In a cherry pitting machine, in combination, a punching block having a series of cherry receiving depressions, a discharging member having a corresponding series of scoops, and means to move said scoops through said depressions;

14L. In a cherry pitting machine, in combination, a punching block having a series of cherry receivingdepressions, a rockable member having a series of scoops extending therefrom, and means to rock said member to swing said scoops through said depressions.

15. In a cherry pitting machine, in combination, a punching block having a series of cherry receiving depressions, a discharging bar having a series of scoops extending therefrom, means to move said bar to a position adjacent said block, means to rock sai bar to swing the scoops through the said depressions, and means to move said bar away from said block.

16. In a cherry pitting machine of the class having a punching block provided with cherry receiving depressions, and a series of pitting plungers, the combination with said block and plungers of a stripping and discharging bar provided with a series of scoops, means for moving said bar prior to the punching operation to a position adjacent said block, means for rocking said bar to swing the scoops through the depressions, and means to then move the bar away from the block.

17 In a combination, ards extending therefrom, slotted members extending adjacent said standardsand movable relative thereto, a bar having lugs extending through the slots in the said standards and members and selectively supported in the lower ends of the slots.

18. In a device having a hopper and a receiver to be fed therefrom, which hopper and receiver are relatively movable into and out of feeding relation, the combination with such hopper and receiver of a dump ing plate, means acting when the hopper and receiver discharge the contents of said receiver onto said plate, and subsequently acting means to dump said plate.

19. In a machine having a vertically reciprocating hopper and a receiver,

in combination, a dumping plate movable with said hopper,

and means acting during the upward movement of said hopper to dump said plate.

CHARLES H. MARSHALL.

device of the class described, in

are out of feeding relation to a punching block, slotted stand- 

